US3627331A - Automatic card dealing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for automatically positioning the magnetic tape head of a cartridge-type player capable of playing different kinds of multitrack tape cartridges. Each cartridge has coded portions which indicate the number of tracks therein, and a bellcrank pivotally mounted to the tape player is responsive to the coded portion of the cartridge placed in the player to position a dual cam relative to a cam follower thereby positioning the head in accordance with the number of tracks in the particular cartridge.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Marlo W. V. Erickson, 6968 S. San Fernando, Tucson, Ariz. 85706 [21] Appl. No. 56,893

[22] Filed July 21,1970

[45] Patented Dec. 14.1971

[54] AUTOMATICCARD DEALING MACHINE 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

FOREIGN PATENTS 415,431 7/1910 France 273/149 R Primary Examiner- Anton O. Oechsle Attorneys Pike H. Sullivan ABSTRACT: An automatic card dealing machine comprising a base member which contains a driving mechanism. A hollow top section is removably disposed on the base to be rotated about a vertical axis by said driving mechanism. Disposed between the base member and top section is one of a plurality of cam plates, each having a number of cams thereon corresponding to the number of dealing stations arbitrarily selected. The top section carries a horizontal shaft having a plurality of arms extending therefrom and so disposed as to incrementally rotate the shaft by engagement of successive arms with successive cams upon rotation of the top section. The incremental rotation of the shaft causes incremental rotation of a plurality of flexible arms with pliable tips past the cards to be dealt to eject the cards through an opening in the top section.

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PATENTEUUEBMIHYI $527,331

sum 1 [1F 2 INVENTOR W V ERICKSON This invention relates to card games; more particularly, to an accessory used when playing cards; still more particularly, to that one particular accessory known as a card dealer.

For the benefit of those less experienced in the art, a card dealer is defined as a mechanical device i n which a pack of playing cards is placed and automatically dealt one at a time to a predetermined number of players. The device is operated by either an electric or spring motor.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a card dealing machine that is fully automatic in its operation once the pack of playing cards has been placed in the same.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic card dealing machine whose mechanism is activated by a small electric motor having electric batteries located in the machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic card dealing machine of the character herein described that contains a minimum number of parts so related to each other as to make the device as fool proof as possible.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an automatic card dealing machine that will deal the cards to from two to six players merely by having one person press the on button to start the machine and the off button" to stop the machine.

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will no doubt appear as the reading of this specification and its appended claims proceeds when the accompanying drawings are examined in connection therewith.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of this invention ready for use.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial exploded view ofthis invention showing its base, a cam plate, and its top section.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of this invention, taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 1, and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a major portion of this invention, taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 3, and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of this invention taken s ubstantially along lines 5-5 of FIG. 5, and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a plurality of different cam plates used in this invention according to the number of card players playing the card game when this invention is used t th a f H In the several views of the accompanying drawings, like parts of this invention are indicated by like reference numbers.

Thereference number 10 indicates this invention in its entirety.

Directing ones attention first to FIG. 3 of the accompanying drawings it will be seen that thisinvention 10 consists of a base 11 that is basically hexagonal when viewed from the top with chopped-offcorners 12. The just-mentioned base 11 is a hollow structure that is made of plastic, metal, or of any other desired material. It houses the centrally located and vertically disposedelectric motor 13 and electric batteries 14 for the motor. Thebottom 15 of theaforesaid base 10 is provided with a door (not shown) that permits access to the aforesaidelectric motor 13 and the batteries liThe six sloping sides of the aforesaid base 11 provide support for the playing cards, as will hereinafter be described. The playing cards are held on the base 11 by means of the vertically disposedperipheral edge 16 of the base. The horizontally disposedtop 17 of the base 11 is provided with a raised center member indisk form 18 in the center of which is located anopening 19 through which upwardly extends theshaft 20 of the aforesaidelectric motor 13. Theaforesaid top 17 of base 11 is provided with two diametrically opposed upwardly extendingcam holders 21 that project through an opening in the desiredcam 22 when the cam is placed on top of the base, as is clearly shown in FIG. 3 of the accompanying drawings.

Continuing to look at FIG. 3 of the accompanying drawings it will be seen that atop section 23, which has the basic configuration of an inverted hollow cup, contains two spaced and parallel downwardly extending integrally formedsupports 24 in each one of which is located one end of the horizontally disposedshaft 25 to which is secured two spaced and parallelcard pickup gears 26 which I personally call four sided gears since this detail of the invention has arubber pad 27 on each Outer end thereon K second fo r rm m b r (gear) 28 is secured to the outer end of the stub-shaft 29 that is supported by one of theaforesaid supports 24. Aspur gear 30 on the aforesaid stub-shaft 29 is in mesh with thespur gear 31 that is suitably secured to one end of the aforesaid horizontally disposedshaft 25. The outer end of each arm of the aforesaid fourarm member 28 comes in contact with the upwardly extendinglugs 42 of theaforesaid ga m 22 when this invention is in actual use.

Although not previously mentioned, the lower end of eachaforesaid support 24 is secured to a horizontally disposedcircular plate 32 that has two diametrically opposed downwardly extendingteeth 33, theteeth 33 being in contact with thespur gear 34 that is secured to the previously mentionedshaft 20 of theelectric motor 13 of this invention. This novel construction provides a means of rotating the entire aforesaidtop section 23 of the invention when theelectric motor 13 is activated. The aforesaidtop section 23 is provided with a spring-loadeddrawer 35 in which is placed one or two decks ofplaying cards 36 at the proper angle for easy. ee iri egkx. the efa d .eria s P gears The way in which this invention is used is as follows: A card player lifts off the aforesaidtop section 23 by means of thehandle 37 and inserts acam 22 that is suitable for the number of players that are playing the game. For example: theaforesaid cam 22 is used for two card players, whilecam 38 is used for three card players,cam 39 for four card players,cam 40 for five card players, andcam 41 for six card players. These five cams are fully illustrated in FIG. 6 of the accompanying drawings where it is seen that each cam has an upwardly extendinglug 42 for each card player. The card player now rgalaces the aforesaidtop section 23 on top of the base 11. When this is done, the twoaforesaid cam holders 21 will proj ect up into already mentioned openings in the cam and thus lock the cam in position on top of the base 11 of this invention. The player newplaces playing cards 36 in the spring-loadeddrawer 35 and sets the card discharge opening 43 that is located in the side of the aforesaidtop section 23 toward himself in order to start the dealing to the next player on his left. He then pushes the onbutton 44 downward, thus activating the aforesaidelectric motor 13 since the on button is obviously the starting switch for theelectric motor 13. The just-mentionedelectric motor 13 rotates the entiretop section 23 by means of theaforesaid spur gear 34 acting on the two downwardly extendingteeth 33 of theaforesaid plate 32 that has already been described as a part of the aforesaidtop section 23 of this invention. The aforesaid fourarm member 28 remains still until it comes in contact with one of theaforesaid lugs 42 of whichever cam is in the device. When this happens, and the aforesaid fourarm member 28 is turned ninety degrees by passing over thelug 42, the action will rotate the aforesaid horizontally disposedshaft 25 and thus cause the twopickup gears 26 to grab the top playing card and pull the card down to the bottom of theaforesaid drawer 35 and kick the card out onto the designated rack. The device is shut off by pressing down on theofi button 45.

It is to be understood that this invention is subject to any and all changes and/or modifications that one may care to make in so longas the changes and/or modifications fall within the scope and intent of the appended claims. For example, the aforesaidelectric motor 13 can be replaced by any desired type of spring motor. The aforesaid electric batteries 14 can be replaced by an electric cord for plugging into house current, if it is so desired. A single electric switch can be used to replace the separate on and off buttons and other changes can be made by those experienced in the art.

What 1 now claim as new is:

1. An automatic card dealing machine comprising a base member. a top member removably mounted upon said base member for rotation in a horizontal plane, said top member being provided with a compartment for holding cards to be dealt and an aperture through which cards may be discharged threrefrom. means associated with said base member for rotating said top member, a plate provided with a plurality of cams the number of which corresponds to the number of hands to be dealt, said cam plate being horizontally disposed and carried on the upper end of said base member and below said top member about the axis of rotation thereof and being readily removable when said top member has been lifted from said base member, a horizontal shaft Within said top member and carrying a plurality of rigid arms extending therefrom so disposed so that each arm will in turn contact one of said cams during rotation of said top member whereby said shaft is given limited rotation at spaced time intervals, and a plurality of thin elongated flexible metal arms having pliable tips disposed in said top member for successive engagement with said cards, means actuating said flexible arms responsive to such limited rotation of @QSWKKEQEW Still th K a i? Particular arm is Pressed against an individual card to be dealt and to cause the same to be discharged through said aperture.

2. The invention of claim 1 whegein ti e rigidarrnscarried by said horizontal shaft are four in number and cause said shaft to rotate substantially one quarter revolution veach time one of said cams is engaged during rotation of the top member.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the means actuating the flexible arms is a shaft which carries the flexible arm and is given limited rotation when one of said rigid arms engages a cam during rotation of the top member.

4. The invention ofclaim 3 wherein during an early phase of the limited rotation of said flexible arm carrying shaft the pliable tip of one of the flexible arms is brought to bear against the card to be dealt at an angle of force which presses the card downward without lateral movement thereof, and as said shaft continues its cycle of rotation the flexible arm is progressively flexed until the angle of force generated thereby is such that the card to be dealt is suddenly propelled from the deck and the top member by the rapid unflexing of the flexible arm.

5. The invention of claim l wherein during an early phase of the limited rotation of said flexible arm carrying shaft the pliable tip of one of the flexible arms is brought to bear against the card to be dealt at an angle of force which presses the card downward without lateral movement thereof, and as said shaft continues its cycle of rotation the flexible arm is progressively flexed until the angle of force generated thereby is such that the card to be dealt is suddenly propelled from the deck and the top member by the rapid unflaqnag theflh am UNITED STATES PATENT OFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Dated December 14, 1971 Patent No.

lnven fl Marlo W. V, Erickson It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Cancel the illustrative drawing on the cover sheet and Q substitute the following:

USCOMM-DC sows-P69 U.$. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I959 0-366-334.

FORM PO-105O (10-69) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Paten N 3.627.331 Dated Invent0r(S) Marlo W. V. Erickson, --2-- It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Signed and sealed this 12th day of December 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

' EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. j ROBERT GOT'ISCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-105O (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 Us GOVERNMENT PRINTING orncz; I969 o-ass-su.

Claims (13)

1. A system for automatically positioning the magnetic tape head of a cartridge type tape player that is adapted to receive and play multitrack tape cartridges of different kinds which have tapes with different numbers of tracks recorded thereon, with the tape cartridges having coded means for identifying the number of tracks, said system including in combination, selector means responsive to the coded means on the tape cartridges, cam means including a plurality of cam portions each associated with one kind of cartridge, a cam follower in engagement with said cam means and connected to the tape head for positioning the same to cooperate with the tracks of a cartridge, and linking means connecting said selector means to said cam means, said selector means operating in response to placement of a tape cartridge in the tape player to determine the number of tracks in the cartridge and actuating said linking means in accordance therewith to position said cam means relative to said cam follower to render a predetermined cam portion operative, said cam follower cooperating with the operative cam portion to automatically position the magnetic tape head in accordance with the number of tracks of such cartridge.

2. Radio-receiving and tape-playing apparatus including in combination, a single supporting chassis, radio-receiving means on said chassis for producing audio signals, stereophonic cartridge-type tape playing means for receiving multitrack tape cartridges of different kinds which have therein tapes with different numbers of tracks recorded thereon, with each tape cartridge having means for identifying the number of tape tracks therein, said playing means including a magnetic head for deriving audio signals from the recorded tracks, audio amplifier means, electrical switch means, said switch means responding to the placement of a tape cartridge in the tape player for selectively connecting audio sigNals from the the radio-receiving means and from the tape-playing means to said audio amplifier means, selector means responsive to the cartridge-identifying means of a cartridge in the tape player, cam means including cam portions associated with the tracks of the different kinds of cartridges and a cam follower connected to the tape head for positioning the same, and linking means connecting said selector means to said cam means, said selector means operating in response to placement of a tape cartridge in the tape player to determine the number of tracks in the cartridge and actuating said linking means in accordance therewith, said linking means acting to position said cam means relative to said cam follower to render a predetermined cam portion operative, said cam follower cooperating with the operative cam portions to automatically position the magnetic tape head in accordance with the number of tracks of the cartridge in the player.

3. A system for automatically positioning the magnetic tape head of a cartridge type tape player that is adapted to receive and play multitrack tape cartridges of different kinds which have tapes with different numbers of tracks recorded thereon, and with the tape cartridge having shaped portions for identifying the number of tape tracks therein, said system including in combination, selector means integral with the tape player and being responsive to the kind of cartridge, cam means including cam portions associated with different kinds of cartridges, each of said cam portions having a plurality of cam surfaces thereon, a cam follower selectively contacting one of said cam surfaces on one of said cam portions and being connected to the tape head for positioning the same, and linking means connecting said selector means to said cam means, said selector means operating in response to placement of a tape cartridge in the tape player to determine the number of tracks in he cartridge and actuating said linking means in accordance therewith, said linking means acting to position one of said cam portions of said cam means so that said cam follower contacts one of said cam surfaces thereof to automatically position the magnetic tape head in accordance with the number of tracks in the cartridge.

4. A system for automatically positioning the magnetic tape head of a cartridge type tape player that is adapted to receive and play multitrack tape cartridges of different kinds which have tapes with different numbers of tracks recorded therein, said system including in combination, shaped portions integral with the tape cartridge for identifying the number of tape tracks therein, selector means integral with the tape player and being responsive to the shaped portion, a horizontally disposed shaft integral with the tape player and having a substantially cylindrical shaped cam coaxially mounted thereon, said cam including cam portions associated with the different kinds of cartridges, each said cam portion having a plurality of circumferentially disposed cam surfaces around the periphery of said cylindrical cam, a cam follower selectively contacting one of said cam surfaces on one of said cam portions and being connected to the tape head for positioning the same, and linking means connecting said selector means to said cam, said selector means operating in response to placement of a tape cartridge in the tape player to determine the number of tracks in the cartridge and actuating said linking means in accordance therewith, said linking means acting to position one of said cam portions of said cam so that said cam follower contacts one of said cam surfaces thereof to automatically position the magnetic tape head in accordance with the number of tracks in the cartridge.

5. A system for automatically positioning the magnetic tape head of a cartridge type tape player that is adapted to receive and play multitrack tape cartridges of different kinds which have different numbers of tape tracks therein, said system including in combination, a tape deck, fIrst and second tape cartridges each having different shaped portions thereon for indicating the number of tape tracks therein, selector means integral with the tape player and being responsive to the shaped portions, a shaft mounted on said tape deck and having a cam slidably mounted thereon, said cam having first and second cam portions and first and second positions on the shaft, a cam follower engaging said first cam portion with said cam in said first position on said shaft and said second cam portion with said cam in said second position on said shaft, said cam follower being connected to the tape head for positioning the same, bias means resiliently biasing said cam in said first position on said shaft, and linking means connecting said selector means to said cam for sliding the same to said second position on said shaft against said bias means, said selector means being responsive to said shaped portion of said first tape cartridge when received in the tape recorder to move said bias means to hold said claim in said first position, and said selector means being responsive to said shaped portion of said second cartridge to slide said cam to said second position on said shaft, whereby said cam follower cooperates with said first and second cam portions to automatically position the magnetic tape head in accordance with the number of tracks in said first and second cartridges.

6. In a cartridge tape recorder having a head, a capstan and a plate on which are mounted cartridge guides, a head-supporting pin, a camshaft slidably positioned under said pin, a plurality of cams fixedly mounted on said camshaft, a spring coupled to said cam shaft tending to slide said camshaft in one direction, a pivotally mounted lever engaging one end of said camshaft and means operable by the insertion of the cartridge on said plate for pivoting said lever and sliding said camshaft against said spring whereby one of said cams support said pin and changes the position of said head relative to the tape.

7. A cartridge-type tape player system for playing cartridges with magnetic tape therein having a number of recording tracks, comprising; a magnetic head being movable between a plurality of transverse positions, said head having at least two magnetic transducer portions formed thereon to be in registry with a corresponding group of recording tracks formed on a tape within a given cartridge which is inserted into the tape player, said tape having a plurality of such groups of recording tracks, each of which requires alignment of said magnetic transducer portions, and the number of such groups of recording tracks being indicated by identifying characteristic means formed on the given cartridge; sensing means on the tape player for sensing the identification characteristic means on the cartridge inserted therein; and means responsive to said sensing means for adjusting said magnetic head to a predetermined one of said transverse position for aligning said magnetic transducer portions to a predetermined group of recording tracks in response to the identification characteristic means of the given cartridge inserted into the tape player to cause playback of the recording tracks in registry with said at least two magnetic transducer portions.

8. The cartridge-type tape player of claim 7 wherein said sensing means includes a lever which is actuated by a housing portion which forms said identifying characteristic means on one type of cartridge, and which lever is not actuated as a result of the absence of said housing portion which forms said identification characteristic means on another type of cartridge.

9. The cartridge-type tape player system of claim 7 wherein said means responsive to said sensing means for actuating said magnetic head includes a cam operable to move the head between said groups of recording tracks on the tape.

10. A head shift mechanism in a tape recorder or playback machine for handling magnetic tapes having different numbers of recording tracks, compriSing: a record or playback head; means supporting said head for vertical movement above a top deck of said machine; cam means including at least two sets of cams and a support shaft for carrying said sets of cams; cam follower means connected to said head for engaging one or the other of said sets of cams to raise and lower said head between two pluralities of different vertical positions with a turning of said shaft; selectively operable means for shifting said cam follower means relative to said cam means to engage one or the other of said sets of cams; and selectively operable means for turning said shaft between a plurality of preselected positions.

11. The mechanism of claim 10 including means supporting said shaft against axial movement.

12. The mechanism of claim 11 wherein said sets of cams are separate rings of cams and said shaft is coaxial with said rings of cams.

13. Radio-receiving and tape-playing apparatus including in combination, a single supporting chassis, radio-receiving means on said chassis for producing audio signals, stereophonic cartridge-type tape playing means for receiving multitrack tape cartridges of different kinds which have therein tapes with different numbers of pairs of stereo tracks recorded thereon, with each tape cartridge having means for identifying the number of tape tracks therein, said playing means including a magnetic head for deriving audio signals from the recorded pairs of stereo tracks, audio amplifier means, electrical switch means, said switch means responding to the placement of the tape cartridge in the tape player for selectively connecting audio signals from the radio-receiving means and from the tape-playing means to said audio signal amplifier means, selector means responsive to the cartridge-identifying means of a cartridge in the tape player, a shaft having a substantially cylindrical cam coaxially and slidably mounted thereon, said cam including first and second cam portions, each cam portion having a plurality of different cam surfaces around the periphery thereof, each different cam surface being associated with a pair of stereo tape tracks, a cam follower selectively contacting one of the cam surfaces and being connected to the tape head for positioning the same, linking means connecting said selector means to said cam, said selector means operating in response to placement of the tape cartridge in the tape player to determine the number of tracks in the cartridge and actuating said linking means in accordance therewith, said linking means acting to position said cam on said shaft to position one of said cam portions of said cam so that said cam follower contacts one of said surfaces thereof to automatically position the magnetic head in accordance with the number of tracks in the cartridge, actuating means connected to said shaft for rotating the same upon the completion of playing of one of the different pairs of stereo tracks on the tape, thereby positioning a different cam surface into contact with said cam follower to automatically position the magnetic tape head to play a different pair of tracks of the multitrack tape.

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